Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS

Important safety notes

The following contains descriptions of certain road and traffic conditions in which you must be particularly attentive. In such situations, brake if necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS is then deactivated.

WARNING
The DISTRONIC PLUS works to maintain the speed selected by the driver unless a moving obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it in the same travel direction is detected (e.g.

following another vehicle ahead of you at your set distance).

This means that:

 - Your vehicle can pass another vehicle after you have changed lanes.
 - While in a sharp turn or if the preceding vehicle is in a sharp turn, the DISTRONIC PLUS could lose sight of the preceding vehicle. Your vehicle could then accelerate to the previously selected speed.

The DISTRONIC PLUS regulates only the distance between your vehicle and those directly ahead of it. It may not register stationary objects in the road, e.g.:

 - a stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
 - a disabled vehicle
 - an oncoming vehicle

The driver must always be alert, observe all traffic and intercede as required by means of steering or braking the vehicle.

WARNING
The DISTRONIC PLUS should not be used in snowy or icy road conditions.

Cornering, going into and coming out of a bend

The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect

The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect vehicles when cornering is limited. Your vehicle may brake unexpectedly or late.

Vehicles traveling on a different line

DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles

DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles traveling on a different line. The distance to the vehicle in front will be too short.

Other vehicles changing lane

DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the

DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehicle cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle will be too short.

Narrow vehicles

DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the

DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the vehicle in front on the edge of the road, because of its narrow width. The distance to the vehicle in front will be too short.

Obstructions and stationary vehicles

DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for

DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obstacles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the detected vehicle turns a corner and reveals an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC PLUS will not brake for these.

Crossing vehicles

DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect

DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect vehicles that are crossing your lane.

Activating DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with crossing traffic, for example, could cause your vehicle to pull away unintentionally.

    See also:

    Important safety notes
    WARNING Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. With the engine not running, there is no power assistance for the brake and steering systems. In this case, ...

    Sunblinds on the rear side windows
    •► To extend: pull the roller sunblind out by tab 1 and hook it onto retainers 2 at the top of the window. ! Always guide the roller sunblind by hand. Do not let it snap back suddenly as ...

    Muscular Moves
    Shortly after last year's GL450 arrived, Mercedes introduced a diesel GL320 CDI; click here to compare the 2008 GL-Class with the 2007 model. Thanks to the higher efficiency of its diesel engine, ...